News South Africa

Farming doesn’t have to be in conflict with nature. Around the world, we’re working with projects that prove it’s possible to grow food in a way that benefits both wildlife and livelihoods. Here's a tasty selection for starters...

The White-winged Flufftail (Critically Endangered) has just been confirmed to be breeding in South Africa – not only Ethiopia as previously thought – thanks to a discovery by BirdLife South Africa’s hidden camera traps. This sheds new light on the bird’s conservation.

Antipodean Albatrosses court for years, mate for life and work together to raise their young – but human activity is causing a sex ratio imbalance that is destroying their lifelong romance. This year, they have been uplisted to Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to worrying population declines.

Throughout 2017, conservationists have been visiting schools and communities across Eurasia and Africa as part of BirdLife's Spring Alive project. At the end of the year, Spring Alive reflects on some of the most exciting ways of inspiring both children and adults about migratory birds and nature.

The word “gannet” is synonymous with gluttony - but lack of food is becoming a serious problem for the Cape Gannet. This year it has been uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered due to population declines driven by depleted fish stocks.

PRESS RELEASE: overfishing and climate change are pushing seabirds such as Black-legged Kittiwake and Cape Gannet closer to extinction, according to the latest update on the conservation status of the world’s birds by BirdLife International for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.

Legislation in South Africa makes provision for different categories of formal environmental protection. Nature Reserves and National Parks are the top category and activities in these parks are strictly controlled by legislation.

The South African conservation community is mourning the loss of one of its most generous but modest and unassuming benefactors, Dr Roelof van der Merwe. Van der Merwe, a member of the private Charl van der Merwe Trust named after his late father that has donated tens of millions of rands to biodiversity conservation projects – especially those involving seabirds and other marine life – died unexpectedly in his sleep on 23 December. He was 57.